Woman accused in fatal stabbing

Girlfriend, 23, faces charge of murder

Published: Friday, September 7, 2007 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, September 7, 2007 at 6:29 a.m.

OCALA - Authorities have arrested a 23-year-old woman and accused her of fatally stabbing her boyfriend early Monday.
Melanie Gonzales is being held without bail at the Marion County Jail. The charge: second-degree murder.
A funeral for Ralph L. Murphy, 23, a Forest High School graduate, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 2105 N. Georgia Road, Crystal River.
About 2:33 a.m. Monday, Gonzales called 911 and told the dispatcher that her boyfriend had been stabbed in Silver Springs Shores, according to a report from the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Gonzales said Murphy "was dying and bleeding really bad."
Deputies went to Oak Pass, a road in Silver Springs Shores. They met Mike Elliott, who told them he had been at the couple's home watching movies when they began arguing.
Elliot said he left the residence to go to his home, which is nearby. On his way there, he heard Gonzales scream and ran to assist her.
A sheriff's detective interviewed Gonzales. She said she went outside to smoke a cigarette with Elliott and her younger brother. At that point, she noticed that her dog was missing.
Gonzales told investigators she drove around searching for her dog. She said she saw Murphy walking toward Elliott's front door. Gonzales said she saw her dog, called to the animal, and walked toward Murphy.
Gonzales said she had a knife in her right hand. She told a sheriff's detective that she always keeps the knife under the driver's side floor mat.
Gonzales said Murphy tackled her and they both fell to the ground. Gonzales said her boyfriend fell on the knife, uttered an expletive and walked away from her as the knife fell from his chest. She said she picked up the knife and threw it in the yard.
Gonzales told the detective her boyfriend reportedly said he would "never tell on her." Murphy died early Monday at Munroe Regional Medical Center. Gonzales was arrested several hours later.Austin L. Miller may be reached at austin.miller@starbanner.com or 867-4118.

OCALA - Authorities have arrested a 23-year-old woman and accused her of fatally stabbing her boyfriend early Monday.<BR>
Melanie Gonzales is being held without bail at the Marion County Jail. The charge: second-degree murder.<BR>
A funeral for Ralph L. Murphy, 23, a Forest High School graduate, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 2105 N. Georgia Road, Crystal River.<BR>
About 2:33 a.m. Monday, Gonzales called 911 and told the dispatcher that her boyfriend had been stabbed in Silver Springs Shores, according to a report from the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Gonzales said Murphy "was dying and bleeding really bad."<BR>
Deputies went to Oak Pass, a road in Silver Springs Shores. They met Mike Elliott, who told them he had been at the couple's home watching movies when they began arguing.<BR>
Elliot said he left the residence to go to his home, which is nearby. On his way there, he heard Gonzales scream and ran to assist her.<BR>
A sheriff's detective interviewed Gonzales. She said she went outside to smoke a cigarette with Elliott and her younger brother. At that point, she noticed that her dog was missing.<BR>
Gonzales told investigators she drove around searching for her dog. She said she saw Murphy walking toward Elliott's front door. Gonzales said she saw her dog, called to the animal, and walked toward Murphy.<BR>
Gonzales said she had a knife in her right hand. She told a sheriff's detective that she always keeps the knife under the driver's side floor mat.<BR>
Gonzales said Murphy tackled her and they both fell to the ground. Gonzales said her boyfriend fell on the knife, uttered an expletive and walked away from her as the knife fell from his chest. She said she picked up the knife and threw it in the yard.<BR>
Gonzales told the detective her boyfriend reportedly said he would "never tell on her." Murphy died early Monday at Munroe Regional Medical Center. Gonzales was arrested several hours later.<BR>
<i>Austin L. Miller may be reached at austin.miller@starbanner.com or 867-4118.</i><BR>